Faraday ePorteur

Like them or not, ebikes will become increasingly popular as the technology evolves. Thankfully, Faraday Bikes, based in Palo Alto, CA, is ensuring that at least one eBike looks as good as it performs. Their ‘ePorteur’ must be ticking everyone’s boxes — it reached the Kickstarter goal necessary for production just one week after it was launched.

Paul Sadoff, of Rock Lobster fame, built the original ePorteur for the Oregon Manifest competition in 2011, where it won the People’s Choice award. Refinements have since been made: the motor includes a ‘Boost’ mode, improved the wiring and made sure the frame and components are both robust and weatherproof.

The Faraday ePorteur retails for US$3,500 via Kickstarter, but there’s also a collectors edition which can be acquired for US$10,000. It’s definitely worth the extra coin: among other embellishments, Paul Sadoff will build the frame himself, the leather detail is upgraded (including a Brooks Swallow Ti) and the fenders are hand made from steam-bent lacquered ash.

Head over to Faraday’s Kickstarter page to purchase and for more information. They have certainly raised the bar for the market, here’s to most other eBikes looking half as good.